Pliers, punch, and similar tool.



PATENTED APR.2,1v907.

W. A. BERNARD. PLIERS, PUNCH, AND SIMILAR TOOL. APPLICATION FILED MAY 3,1905.

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- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. BERNARD, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE WILLIAMSCHOLLI-IORN COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, A

CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

PLlERS, PUNCH, AND SIMILAR TOOL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 2, 1907.

Application filed May 3, 1905. Serial No. 258,637.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. BERNARD, of the city and county of NewHaven and State of Connecticut, have invented new and v usefulImprovements in Pliers, Punches, and

Similar Tools, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,which form a part thereof, and in which- Figure 1 represents a sideelevation of pliers embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a longitudinalvertical section through the same; Figs. 3 and 4, transverse verticalsections on lines 3 3 and 4 4, respectively, of Fig. 2 Fig. 5, a planview of a blank from which one of the levers of the pliers isconstructed; Fig. 6, a transverse vertical section of the blank of thehandle portion of one of the levers when partially formed into shape,and Figs. 7 and 8 similar views showing successive stages in theoperation of forming the blank into the handle.

In all figures similar letters of reference represent like parts.

.This invention relates to pliers, punches, and similar tools, and hasfor its object the production of a novel form of tool constructed ofsheet metal in which increased strength and efficiency is obtained,particularly in the handle portions of the levers. Handles haveheretofore been formed of sheet metal by curving the outer surfaces toform convenient gripping-surfaces for the operator.

One of the improvements of the present invention consists in curvinginward the lateral edges of the handle portions on the under side of thegripping-surfaces, so that they may meet each other and form asubstantially hollow tubular handle, by which means the handle portionsare strengthened and there is less liability of their bending ortwisting under pressure. Moreover, a convex smooth surface may be thusproduced on the under side of the gripping portions which ives aconvenient surface against which the Fngers of the operator may press inforcing the levers apart.

In the particular form of the invention illustrated in the drawings thehandle and jaw portions of the levers are shown integral, (though theinvention is not intended to be limited to such a construction.) andthejaws (of sheet metal) are formed hollow by bringing the lateral edgestogether to similarly obtain the increase of strength in the jawportions.

To these and other ends the invention consists of the severalcombinations and improvements set forth and claimed hereinafter.

Referring to the drawings for a more particular description, the partsdesignated by the letters A and B represent the handle portions of twolevers. One or both of the levers are shown slotted or mortised in frontof the handle portions, so that two parallel plates at and b are formedat the forward ends of the handle portions, through which the fulcrumpinC is inserted to pivotally connect the two levers. In front of thepivot-pin C jaws D and E are shown formed integral with theattaching-plates a and b. A disk or washer K may be inserted between theattaching-plates of the inner lever, so that when the fulcrum C isheaded the disk K will prevent the attaching-plates from being forcedtogether.

The lateral edges a and b of the handle portions A and B are turnedinward and meet ona longitudinal line on the under side of thegripping-surfaces a and 6 so that in cross-section, Fig. 3, the handleportion shows a substantially tubular body with a smooth convex surfaceabove and below.

The operation of forming the handle portions into the desiredconstruction may be as follows: F designates a blank of sheet metal fromwhich the lever may be formed, substantially in the form shown in Fig.5. Near the forward end of the blank is a slot or mortise G. The lateraledges of the blank are bent on the dotted lines H, Fig. 5, whereby thereis obtained a handle portion A or B, with a mortise G and a forward jawportion I) or E. At the fulcrum-point on either side of the mortise arethe parallel side plates at or b. In the handle portions the lateraledges L of the blank are prolonged, as more particularly shown in Fig.6, so that by means of a die M, Fig. 7, the edges may be curved towardeach other, and by means of another die N, Fig. 8, the edges L may beforced in contact with each other along a longitudinal seam on the underside of the handle, and the handle portion assumes substantially atubular form with an axial hollow bore extending substantially theentire length of the handle.

By this means the handle gains the strength coincident with a tubularconstruction and a convenient gripping-surface for opening as well asclosing the levers is obtained with a minimum expenditure inmanufacture. The outer edges of the jaws may be formed in substantiallysimilar manner by having the lateral edges (1 and e projecting away fromthe meeting surfaces forced toward each other and united along alongitudinal seam on the outer surface of the jaw, so that the jaws arealso substantially tubular in form, as shown more particularly in Fig.4,

I ani aware that pliers have been made with handle and jaw portionsformed of sheet metal, and I therefore do not claim, broadly, such aconstruction; but

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In pliers, punches, and similar articles, the combination with twomembers pivotally united, a jaw at the forward end of each member, andthe rear portions of said members constituting handles each having itsedges bent inward transversely to form smooth inner surfaces, and eachbeing bent longitudinally to constitute substantially convexed surfaces.

2. In pliers, punches and similar articles,

the combination with two members pivotally united, a jaw at the forwardend of each member, the rear portions of the said members havingdifferent cross-sectional areas and having inturned edges to constitutesmooth inner surfaces, and the said portions being bent longitudinally,substantially as described.

3. In pliers, punches and similar articles, the combination of twomembers pivotally united, a jaw at the forward end of each member andthe rear portions of the member being formed into handles and havingtheir edge portions bent inwardly in substantially straight lines toform flat smooth inner surfaces, substantially as described.

4:. A curved sheet-metal handle for pliers and the like, ofsubstantially semitubular cross-section, said cross-section being closedor continuous throughout the gripping-surface of the handle, and larger111 one dimension at the middle of said gripping-surface than at eitherend thereof.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand on the 29th day of April,1905.

WILLIAM A. BERNARD.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM R. PlTKIN, SAMUEL H. FIsHER.

